Archers thread #156: Fireworks in Ambridge! Helen gave Lee a rocket, but Grey Gables is a damp squib. Is the writing on the (church) wall?Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed, and of course we are always delighted to welcome back former or occasional listeners/posters. We don't all agree on all points, although we do mostly try to be civil about it. Most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you're irresistibly attracted to George Grundy, or other unusual views.

Spoilers: not on this thread, please! We don't wait for the omnibus to discuss the weeknight episodes, but we do try our best to avoid cross-contamination from www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4636789-the-archers-spoilers-thread-7-cant-wait-for-702pm-join-us-here, where spoilers are positively welcomed!

For newer listeners, lurkers or those who just have no idea what we're talking about, @DadDadDad has created this useful thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have - BOOP point for him! (See thread for explanation.)

Thanks to @OverArmour for the title suggestion, which I have tweaked a bit. I was strongly tempted by Less GGP (Grey Gables Peril) More GPP (Guinea Pig Plot), which was a plaintive cry from @PuppyPerson some days ago, but if Poppy has found new homes for the baby guinea pigs that may be the last we hear of them for some time, sadly.

Surely in the life of the next thread we must hear more from or of Rob, or Ron as some on this thread prefer to call him? <taps foot> Will Kirsty snap and tell Helen a few home truths? Will Pat's shotgun finally be brought into play? We can only hope ...

Also, will we ever find out who owns the other 60% of Grey Gables? Why is Adil AWOL (to use the other bit of OverArmour's title idea!)? Why aren't we hearing from Roy? Will GG ever re-open and will Emma get her Big Chance at last?

So many questions! Over to you.

I liked the bit in that episode where Oliver said something along the lines of "when you're good Adil, there's no one better".

I mean, what is that based on??

His first year in charge? That went pretty well.

It can't have gone that well since all the plans he put in place (like the design of the kitchen) are apparently awful.

Lee is going to find it quite hard to find a new girlfriend if he’s spending his spare
time looking after Henry and Jack.

I would have enjoyed a reference to the posters and action figures while he was packing up. But, as we have established, continuity is not the SWs’ thing at the moment. Surprised they didn’t have him loading a set of golf clubs into the car.

I found Lee's departure quite sad. He sounded bewildered. Decent, hardworking bloke getting kicked out of his home and separated from his second family, he couldn't understand what he'd done wrong.

Stupid Helen.

Where is he moving to? What a cow she has been.

I suppose the sw are being consistent here - they are showing how she can be truly awful whilst also going through an awful situation

Where is he moving to? What a cow she has been.

Didn't he say he was staying with a friend in Borchester?

Where is he moving to? What a cow she has been

A colleague is putting Lee up.

Given Hannsh's struggles to find somewhere to rent, I wonder if Lee will have any luck.

I wasn’t able to listen last night.

where is Hannah living? I do think her and will would be a good couple - George’s animosity to her seems to be teeing it up

I’m guessing he will end up in San Fran with Helen telling him how selfish he is for leaving the boys

For someone who instigated the break up, I think she overdid it a bit on the tears.

The irony of Lee now being expected to be a weekend dad to Henry and Jack …

I can hardly bear to think of how he would be feeling this morning.

Those were exactly my thoughts. And Lee's clearly only doing it in the hope of getting back with Helen. I won't be in the least bit surprised if they do get back together, he's clearly being shifted out of the house so she can be alone and vulnerable just as he was strategically sent on holiday to San Francisco for Knob's previous return. @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g your breaking down the fourth wall and ruining everything is absolutely spot on. Oliver and Adil's reciprocation felt a bit compare and contrast with Helen and Lee - all the "I don't know if I can ever trust you again" and "Give me another chance and I promise I won't let you down". The trouble is the longer it goes on the more ludicrous it seems that we aren't allowed to know who "the partners" are - it's they who are making Oliver stump up the cash and presumably it's up to them whether Adil (who sounded more Paddington than ever) is allowed to stay.

My brother is an agricultural land agent. Selling land is not really a quick and easy way to free up capital. It tends to have a limited market.

Oliver could auction it I suppose.

Is he looking to split the title on the property? That could take FOREVER!

Lee is going to find it quite hard to find a new girlfriend if he’s spending his spare
time looking after Henry and Jack. Let alone finding one happy to be encumbered not just with his children from a previous marriage, but also children from a short term relationship. If she’s also got children, that’s going to be quite some blended family. But I don’t think he’ll be looking for a GF just yet.

Haven’t edited, just tried to find why I had italics rather than bold. Mystery. Since i used ** just as I did for the words italics and bold

I can hardly bear to think of how he would be feeling this morning

Same. I'm getting overinfested in this. I'm going to start googling physiotherapist shortages in San Francisco next.

And Lee's clearly only doing it in the hope of getting back with Helen

Do you think so?

I would imagine the sudden separation from the children must be wrenching. Particularly as he’s had to go through it before. He must feel such a fool.

And I daresay the Beechwood house was/is a fairly delightful family home (despite Helen’s controlling nature). Now Lee’s waking up in someone’s bleak spare room - not even a friend’s house, but a colleague’s - where no one loves him. It’s awful.

If he’d posted on MN I’d have told him to stay put until he could find somewhere comfortable. Being forced to dismantle his life within the space of a few hours - through no actual fault of his - was just cruel.

What have we heard from henry?

there is no way that kid is going to turn out ok given the hand he’s been dealt.

Being forced to dismantle his life within the space of a few hours - through no actual fault of his - was just cruel And then being forced to pretend he was going along with it and that it was a mutual decision - and actually doing so because he’s such a nice man to want to make things easier for Henry. Helen really does not deserve him.

Was Jack under 3 when Lee moved in?

it’s heartbreakingly cruel to those boys. I know on here people are always told not to stay in a relationship that makes you unhappy but I do think Helen should have tried couples counselling or something.

Actually, although I find Lee so annoying, I thought the scene with him leaving was touching and I thought he was taking partial responsibility for it so as to make things easier for Henry and not leave him hating his mum (any more than he already does!). It is normal for ex-step-parents to continue to see former stepkids they have a bond with, I think. I know Helen and Lee weren’t married but if I was Lee I’d find it hard to refuse to see the boys again - they are all close.

brilliantly acted all round too. Helen, Lee and Henry actors are all fantastic.

Totally agree.

And the boys would be better off with him. He listens to Henry and doesn’t patronise him, he’s interested in their interests, and he proactively does childcare and running around after them rather than seeming to see them as an inconvenience.

I wonder if we’re in for a storyline about Helen having a breakdown that been long overdue since her abuse from Ron. There was talk of counselling at the time of her release from prison and I cannot believe anyone could go through that and not be mentally scarred, let alone someone as fragile as Helen. But it never happened.

I know from past and very bitter experience that a breakdown from abuse can take years to manifest itself and you spend the intervening years blaming one thing after another for why you feel the way you do, controlling things more and more to try and keep a grip, and attempting to outrun your declining mental health. Then - bam - it’s crisis point.

As for Meer and her bloody snaps, I'm as strong an advocate as any for quiet animal-friendly fireworks and for the effect on livestock to be highlighted (hopefully along with those bloody Chinese lanterns which should be banned outright) but she’s being an arse about it.

Mia is definitely a case of "with friends like that who needs enemies" for any cause she espouses for a few days before moving on to the next.